So here is my initial review:
Here is the business end. It is very glossy and has quite a bit of glare:
The top of the screen is machined aluminum. It is screwed on and was a bit loose. I tightened it up and it was fine. The surround is made of what looks like die cast aluminum. The mold needs some work in the bottom corners, it isn't completely smooth. I have not fully installed it in the dash to check fit, but it does have some movement so you can adjust it.
Notice the bent tabs? They are not suppose to be that way. I am not sure if that is a result of China -> US or Texas -> California. It was packed very well from macmann.
GPS and Wifi(?) antennas:
Main wiring harness that taps into the tape deck:
It is wrapped in a fabric tape. Not my favorite wiring covering but it seems to be pretty good quality.
Another:
"Nav speaker" and DVR harness:[/URL]
I'll call this a "breakout box". It takes the harness from the tape deck and connects to the screen via the smaller connector.
So here is how this thing works. It emulates the stock MFD for things like AM/FM/CD, HVAC controls, Trip computer. Then it has a separate mode for Android. For example: if you are playing FM radio and switch to Android, it stops playing the FM radio but leaves the antenna up. Same with the CD, etc. I imagine this works the opposite way, if you want the navigation voice to work you must still be in the Android part of the unit. This is likely the reason for the extra speaker.
HVAC controls work, sort-of. No auto it seems, no polling the outside temp either. I'll have to look into why, but I suspect it is looking for the wrong pin or that function may be on one of the other nav boards that did not get carried over. The nav board does not fit into the supplied box at all. I will have to home brew something. I am unsure why mine is different. It is not the box, the cut out is not even the correct width to fit the connectors.
Bottom line: even if we can get everything to work as it is suppose to, it is still a deeply flawed system. I understand that by utilizing the factory control boards it makes it easy, but it does not make the operation of the truck easy. There are now NO physical HVAC buttons.
From the Russian video (FF to 2:05):
They have the correct metal box for my MFD boards. It looks like they might have both boards in the box so I will try that without the screen connected.
EDIT:
All of the displays are in metric, especially when in the "stock" system. No apparent option to change it. Very annoying.
Outside temp does not work, but auto temp does. Again, in Celsius.
The extremely glossy screen is infuriating.
